Here's What Key Metrics Tell Us About HCA (HCA) Q4 Earnings

Core Insights - HCA Healthcare reported revenue of $19.51 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 6.7% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $8.01, up from $6.22 in the same quarter last year, with an EPS surprise of +8.9% compared to the consensus estimate of $7.36 [1] - The reported revenue was slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $19.64 billion, resulting in a revenue surprise of -0.63% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Revenue per Equivalent Admission was $18,794, slightly below the average estimate of $18,847.16 [4] - Equivalent Admissions were reported at 1.04 billion, matching the average estimate [4] - Total Admissions reached 576.84 million, slightly above the average estimate of 575.8 million [4] - Patient Days totaled 2,708.66, marginally exceeding the estimate of 2,704.34 [4] - The Average Length of Stay remained consistent at 5 days, in line with estimates [4] - The number of hospitals was reported at 190, slightly below the estimate of 191 [4] - Inpatient Revenue per Admission was $19,847, significantly lower than the average estimate of $20,470.97 [4] - Equivalent Patient Days were 4.88 million, just below the average estimate of 4.89 million [4] - Licensed Beds at the end of the period were 50,436, below the estimate of 50,574 [4] - The number of freestanding outpatient surgery centers was 121, below the average estimate of 123 [4] Stock Performance - HCA shares have returned -0.4% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]